Telephone company damaged my yard, what can/should I do?

Question

I returned home from vacation to find a pile of wheatstraw covering about a 40 square foot area of red clay where my grass used to be.

According to the literature that was stuck in my door, AT & T has a telephone line easement where their lines run, but the damage spread several feet on each side of where the line runs, and it didn't appear they did much to repair the turned up ground, just cover it with the straw.

Do I have rights to get them to at least pay for some sod to cover up my chewed up yard?

Answer 1

most utility companies will fix the damages to the yard after yard work. call att and report the problem. they will send someone out to talk to you about the damages and what repairs can be made. the companuy i work for always tries to clean up the work area as well as possible. remember, grass will take some time to regrow.

also, after a dig up, there will be some settling of the earth. repairs are often delayed while this happens, then a return trip is made to complete the clean up.

Answer 2

Suck it up and get on with your life. There is an easement there and it sounds like they must have thrown down some grass seed or why would they have laid the straw ? They only have to make a reasonable attempt at repairing the yard. Don't like it...then move into a condo or buy a house in a aerial utility area. It would cost you more money and time to sue them and you would probably loose anyway. If you are really that concerned, then just call them. I can assure you that they are not in the business of pissing people off, there is too much competition for your business these days. Contractors probably did the work anyway.

Answer 3

yes, they have an easment that it detailed on your deed. Outside that easement is yours to control. If they screwed up, you can contact the telco legal department and demand the make it right. They will probably give you some free service, but stand up to them.

Answer 4

If they damaged your property, yes you

can sue them to fix and repair the damage

they created.

If the damage is under $5000.00 you can

sue them in small claims court to get the

needed repairable thing done to your yard.

Be sure to take many photographs.

Get Measurements, get quotes IN WRITING from

companies that does this sort of yard repair.

If the damage is more than $5000.00 then

get yourself a good lawyer.

I'm sure somebody at your local community center

can suggest such a lawyer.

Or look in the yellow pages under Attorneys or

Lawyers.

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Answer 5

Good luck. Don't give you much of a chance

Answer 6

Yes , you do if they crossed the easement.........just go get em..........it's that simple........my dad used to work for the power company.........and the last couple of years of his career that's what he did.......it was a public relation thing to see that the company did the right thing for the customer.....ring their bell till it falls off the hook.........don't give up..........remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease:) squeak boy squeak:)nite